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The Storyline... The Sacred Heart women's basketball team takes on Bryant in its first Saturday afternoon NEC contest of the 2010-11 season. The Pioneers have won six-of-eight but will look to bounce back from a 55-37 road loss at the hands of Monmouth last time out. SHU is 5-2 at home this season , including a perfect 2-0 mark against league opponents in the Pitt Center. Bryant enters Saturday's action after sweeping two games in league play last weekend. The Bulldogs picked up a 59-48 win over St. Francis (NY) and squeaked by Long Island 45-44.

Series... The Pioneers are 5-7 all-time against Bryant but hold a 3-0 record in the program's Division I era. SHU knocked off the Bulldogs twice last year, including a 77-68 win at home. Bryant last defeated SHU December 8, 1993 in a 82-54 decision in Smithfield, RI. Sacred Heart owns a 4-3 mark at home against the Bulldogs.
Scouting the Bulldogs... Bryant recorded back-to-back wins last weekend to snap a three game losing streak and move to 2-2 in conference play. The Bulldogs rank last in the NEC in field goal percentage, shooting at a 33.7 percent clip in 2010-11. However, Bryant is tops in the league in steals per game, stripping opponents an average of 9.9 times each game. Danielle Douglas leads the BU attack with 10.7 points per game while Meredith Soper is the squad's top rebounder with 7.2 boards per game.

SHU Against the NEC... The Pioneers have a 153-49 (.758) record in their 12 year history in the Northeast Conference. Along with a pair of league championships Sacred Heart is one of just two teams to go undefeated in league play and win the postseason tournament, accomplishing that feat back in 2009-10. SHU was triumphant in 11 of its first 12 conference games last season, including two victories over Bryant.

Gotta Go To "Mo"... Senior Maureen (Mo) Reilly (Cherry Hill, NJ) has tied or improved her career high in both games since returning to the starting lineup against Fairleigh Dickinson. Reilly had become the Pioneers most productive bench player after starting the first three games of the season. Last time out the senior forward dropped in a career best 10 points to lead the Pioneers scoring against Monmouth.

Norman Finds Her Role... Freshman Ericka Norman (Chino HIlls, CA) has now started four straight games at guard for the Pioneers. The freshman set a career high with 11 points against Wagner and has tallied 13 steals in the last three games. Norman is beginning to earn the reputation as a superb defender by forcing turnovers, tough shots, and disjointed possessions.

Taylor Takes Charity... Junior Callan Taylor (Overland Park, KS) ranks first in the Northeast Conference in free throw percentage in 2010-11. Taylor has made 35-of-38 (92.1%) attempts from the line and earlier this season made 22 consecutive free throws. The Kansas native started the season with a 9-for-9 effort at the charity stripe against Saint Peter's. Against league opponents Taylor is averaging 11.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

60 is the Magic Number... The Pioneers have won all nine games this season in which they have reached the 60 point pleateau. The lowest point total in a SHU victory came in a 61-52 win over Albany. The Pioneers best scoring effort in a loss was a 62-54 decision against St. Bonaventure.

Upcoming Slate... SHU takes to the road next weekend for the longest remaining road trip on the 2010-11 schedule. The Pioneers will play Saturday at Wagner before a Monday night clash with Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, MD.